In a significant crackdown, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has apprehended four individuals from varied professions for their alleged involvement in a large-scale ganja smuggling operation. The arrests, made in Hapur city, led to the seizure of a substantial 224 kilograms of the contraband, valued at more than Rs 20 lakh in the illicit market.
The Arrests and the Accused
Acting on a specific tip-off, a combined team from the STF's Meerut unit and the Hapur police conducted a swift operation, leading to the capture of the four accused. The police have identified them as Amjad Khan, who owns an electric vehicle rickshaw agency; Anuj Kumar, a hotelier; and Rahul Kumar, a farmer. All three are residents of Meerut. The fourth accused is Khushnood Khan, a truck driver from Shamli district. Officials stated that all the arrested men are aged between their late twenties and mid-thirties.
Investigations revealed that the group cleverly used their legitimate businesses as a front to facilitate the cross-border transportation of ganja. This cover helped them move the drugs without raising immediate suspicion.
Modus Operandi and Supply Chain
Detailing the racket's operations, ASP Brijesh Kumar Singh explained that Amjad Khan had established a connection with a supplier named Mohd Farmaan from Muradnagar. Farmaan would source the ganja from Odisha at a rate of approximately Rs 4,000 per kilogram. Once the consignment reached Uttar Pradesh, the accused would then distribute and sell it in the lucrative markets of Delhi-NCR and surrounding areas for nearly Rs 10,000 per kg.
The staggering profit margin, effectively 150 percent, was the primary motivator for the accused. They reportedly pooled their financial resources to fund the bulk purchases and later shared the illicit proceeds among themselves.
Criminal Histories and Legal Action
Further scrutiny into the backgrounds of the accused has uncovered previous criminal involvements. Amjad Khan and Anuj Kumar are known to be close associates and were previously named in a 2022 case related to rioting and attempt to murder in the Muradnagar area.
Additionally, Khushnood Khan, the truck driver, has a history with narcotics laws. He was earlier booked under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as well as the Gangster Act. These prior records point towards a deeper engagement in criminal activities beyond the current smuggling case.
The successful bust by the UP STF highlights the ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to dismantle drug networks operating under the guise of normal businesses. The investigation is ongoing to trace the entire supply chain and identify other potential members of the racket.
